Manchester City are set to face Palermo in a pre-season friendly, but Pep Guardiola has left out nine key players from the travelling squad. The match, scheduled for Saturday night, has fans buzzing with speculation about team selection and potential transfers.
Who's Missing?
Jack Grealish, James McAtee, and Stefan Ortega are notable absentees due to ongoing transfer negotiations. Grealish is reportedly in talks with Everton for a loan move, while McAtee has attracted interest from Bundesliga clubs and Nottingham Forest. Ortega's position at City has become less secure following the arrival of James Trafford.
Rodri, Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol, and Claudio Echeverri are also missing, deemed not fully fit to travel. This raises concerns about their availability for the Premier League opener against Wolves next weekend. Echeverri sustained an injury at the Club World Cup, while Rodri's return from a serious injury is being carefully managed.
Injured midfield duo Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips are also absent from the squad. However, young prospect Divine Mukasa has been included in the travelling party, a testament to his impressive performances in the academy.
Predicted Line-Up
Predicting Pep Guardiola's line-up for pre-season friendlies is notoriously difficult, but James Trafford is tipped to start in goal. The squad includes a mix of established stars and promising youngsters, offering Guardiola an opportunity to experiment with different combinations.
Man City Squad vs Palermo:
- James Trafford
- Ruben Dias
- John Stones
- Nathan Ake
- Erling Haaland
- Jeremy Doku
- Bernardo Silva
- ...and others
The match against Palermo provides a valuable opportunity for City to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the new Premier League season. While the absence of key players is a concern, it also allows other squad members to stake their claim for a starting spot.
The game kicks off at 8pm UK time on Saturday night.